Alexandra Caselli: Out the Aquarium

With a cosmopolitan name like Alexandra Caselli, how can one go wrong? Add to that great name the classical heritage of Muzio Clementi, the impressionistic philosophy of Lynne Arriale (by way of Bill Evans), and a great ear for melody, and you have the total package that is Ms. Caselli. Out The Aquarium is Caselli's new recording. She has previously been associated with the Jennifer York Trio and quartet. The pianist is equally adept at electric and acoustic jazz, with experience in both arenas.

Out The Aquarium employs two trios differing in the use of electric or acoustic bass. This seemingly small change alters dramatically the swing factor in the music. The difference is that between straight piano trio mainstream and contemporary jazz. Compare directly "Out the Aquarium and "It Might as Well be Spring" with "I Remember You," "Follow Your Road," and "Side By Side." With the change in drumming (along with the electric bass), the latter three pieces are prime Adult Contemporary stock and very effective stock at that. What makes this disc so appealing is Ms. Caselli's musicality in both her treatments of standards and her own originals. She plays with a double-fisted, block chord abandon that imparts a real orchestral sound to her trio. I kindly recommend this recording to all lovers of the piano trio format, be they traditional middle-of-the-roaders or Adult Contemporary wonks.